Hydraulic classifier



. Dec. 4, 1923. v 1,476,250

R. s.' HANDY ET AL HYDRAULIC CLASSIFIER vFiled Deo. '7, 1921 PatentedDec. 4, 1923.

BQYAL S. HANDY AND EDWARD HEARING, OF KELLOGG, IDAHO.

HYDRAULTC CLASSIFIEE.

Application filed December 7, 1921. Serial No. 520,494.

' To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that we, ROYAL S. HANDY and Fnwnnn HEARTNG, `citizens of theUnited States, residing` at Kellogg, in the county of Shoshone and Stateof Idaho, have invented new and useful Tmprovements in HydraulicClassiers, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to the construction ofthat class of apparatuscommonly termed hydraulic classifiers, and is especially designed toprogressively segregate the granular constituents of ore or pulp in theorder of their specific gravities as they discharge from the stamps,pebble mills, or other grinding mechanism employed.

The objects of the present invention are to generally improve andsimplify hydraulic classifiers; to render such classiiiers durable andefficient in operation; to increase the capacity thereof; to minimizethe amount of Water employed; to permit visual observation and easyregulation of water pressure, and to permit quick and ready removal ofsuch parts of the mechanism as may require cleaning from time to time.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combinationand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1is a plan view of the classifier.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, longitudinal section of the same. y

y Fig. 3 is a cross section on line 3-3, Fig. f Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of one of the classifying columns employed. y

Fig. 5 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 6 is a cross section on line (i4-6,Fig. 4. Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Figs.1, 2 and 3, A indicates in general a vbox shaped container vin which isformed aseries of pyramid shaped settling l compartments ofincreasingsurface area and depth asindicated at 4, 5, 6 and 7.V The main containeris also provided with a feed box 2, and a pipe 3, through which the pulpdischarges after classification has taken place. Arranged below eachsettling chamber is an enclosed pressure chamber, as indicated at 8, andforming communication between each pressure chamber andthe settlingchamber arranged above thesame is a crosswise extending slot, which isprovided for the reception of a removable block 9. The slots and theblocks disposed therein'are ar ranged in the vortex of the respectivesettling chambers and to a certain extent form the most essential partof the classifying mecha-V nism. The blocks employed are specificallyillustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. They consist of elongated cast-ironblocks, the sides and ends of which are tapered as shown at 10 and 11 toconform with the contour of the slots. Each block is provided withsorting columns 12, which are formed by drilling the blocks or otherwiseforming the columns therein. Each block is also provided with a pair ofupwardly extending eye-bolts 13, which permit ready removal or insertionof the blocks, and the sorting columns employed are grad uated in sizewith relation to the respective blocks, that is the block disposed inthe iirst settling chamber, or that indicated at 4, con tains sortingcolumns of the largest diameter, while the blocks disposed in theremaining settling chambers are provided with sorting columns ofgradually decreasing size. Tn other words as the area and depth of thesettling chambers increase, a proportionate decrease in the size of thesorting columns is resorted to. This is due to ther fact that varyinggrades of classifiedv material is sought, and also due to the fact that`the coarser particles contained in the ore or pulp have a tendency tosettle more rapidly than the lighter materials.

' For the purpose of obtaining-the classification desired,counter-currents are employed, that is each pressure chamber 8 isconnected with a main water supplypipe 14 by means of pipes 15. Eachpipe 15 is provided with a valve 16 whereby the pressure may beregulated, and each pipe 15 is also provided with a glass pressure gauge17to permit visible indication of the water .pressure maintained in therespective chambers 8.

In actual operation the pulp Jor ore to be classified is delivered tothe feed box 2, by means of water or anyfother suitable liquid. The pulpis here equally distributed and will iiow over the settling compartments4, 5, 6 and 7, in the direction of arrow a. As the pulp flows in thisdirection, the yvelocity will gradually reduce and the heavier particlescontained will settle in thechambers 4, 5, 6 and 7. The settlingparticles will finally reach the drilled openings 12 or the sortingcolumns where they meet the rising currents discharging from thepressure chambers 8, and as the velocity of these rising or countercurrents is controlled by the valves 16 and the pressure is visiblyindicated by the glass pressure gauges 17, it is obvious that any flowor velocity desired may be readily obtained, and that only particles ofa given specific gravity and shape will be permitted to enter therespective compartments. Suchv particles as pass through thepsortingcolumns will continue to settle into thepressure boxes, where they maybe discharged through spigots, such as indicated at 18. vThe lighter`particles descending into the'lirst chamber, or into any chamber forthat matter,'which it is not desiredto collect, will rise towards thetop of the settling compartment from which it ViseXpelled and will thusoverflow into the succeeding compartment, where it may be permitted tosettlethrough the columns if desired. AThis is possible as the slightlydifferent conditions of counter-current in the sorting columns willpermit such action, thus particles of one gravity will settle inthefirst compartment, and particles of another gravity Vor shape willsettle in thc second compartment, and so on, and varyino' grades arefinally obtained.

he present'machine may handle pulp fromv stamps, pebble mills, or anyother class of grinding or crushing` machinery desired. Practically anynumber of segregated grades or classes of material desired may beobtained by increasing or decreasing' i the number of settling chambersand classitying columns employed. rlhe product thus classified may bereturned to the crushing or grinding mechanism employed if a finerproduct is desired, .or it may be directly delivered toconcentratingtables, etc.,that

is the` apparatus is equally applicable whether it is desired to slimethe entire product or to merely classify thel pulp for furtherconcentration, etc.

The features desired in the Aapparatus here 'disclosed are: superior Yefiiciency in every direction and greater ease of operation. andcontrol. These results are obtained: first, by providing the pyramidshaped settling chambers of increased area and depth, it is possibletogradually remove and segregate vthe ore particles of varyingshape andsize and Vspecific gravity Second, the removable blocks of sortingcolumns, not constricted, and which also vary in size and in numberserve a similar purpose. Third, the glass pressure gauges permit visualindication of the pressure in eachcompaif ment, and as valves' areprovided in conjunction therewith, adjustments t-o accommodate varyingconditions set up by the two preceding factors may be quickly andreadily attended to. Fourth, the provision of removable blocks ofsorting columns is of further importance as it permits almostinstantaneous ycleaning of,V theY sorting columns', and rendersthe-operation of the machine infinitely easier, that is wood pulp orother waste has a tendency to clog the fairly small openings formed inthe blocks, and as this is the case'the blocks must be cleaned from timeto time which can be quickly accomplished in the present instance due tothe fact that each block is provided with eye-bolts i3,WhichezrtendVabove the water level and thereby permit quick removal and vre-insertionof the blocks.. A lixed height or water level ,is maintained above thesettling chambersd, 5, 6 and 7, by means of an overow or baille board25, and as this lmay be readily removed or changed, it is obvious thatthe height may be increased or decreased to suit varying conditions ofpulp. y y y While certain features of the present invention are more orless specifically illustratod, we wish it understood that variouschanges in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of'the appended claims, similarly hat the materials and finish of theseveral partsemployed may be such as the experience and judgment of themanufacturer may dictate or varyinguses may demand. Y

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to lsecurelby Letters Patent isl. A classifier comprising a trough shapedcontainer having a series of settling chambers formed therein andarranged in suc-Y cessive order lengthwise thereof, a pressure chamberformed below each settling chamber and vcommunicating with'th'e settlingchamber thereabove and provided with an inlet opening and an outlet,valveoperated means for admitting water toeach pressure chamber and forregulatin "the Vpressure thereof and means between t ing element of thewater 4admitting means of eachY pressure chamberv and'the outlet thereofand disposed adjacent one sidev of the container toAcontinuouslyindicate-'the pressure in each pressure chamber totherebyprevent the use of an excessive amount of water and thereby preventr`the ywaste of water.

2. A classifier comprising a trough shaped container having a series oflsettling chambers formed therein and arranged insuc-V oessive orderlengthwise thereof, each .successive chamber increasing Ainvarea, apressure chamber formed below each settling chamber and communicatingtherewith yand provided `with an outlet, valve operated means foradmitting vwater to each pres sure chamber and for regulatingthepressure thereof,l and a gauge disposedinl the path of thewateradmitting means of each pressure chamber between l. the regulatinfrelement of the water admittingy means and eregulatthe container adjacentto one side of the latter to visibly indicate the kpressure in therespective pressure chamber to thereby prevent the use of an excessiveamount of water and thereby revent the waste of water.

3. A classi er comprising a trough shaped cont-ainer having a series ofsettling chambers formed therein and arranged in successive orderlengthwise thereof, a pressure chamber formed below each settlingchamber and communicating with the settling chamber thereabove andprovided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, valve operatingmeans for admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulatingthe pressure thereof, and means between the regulating element of thewater admitting means of each pressure chamber and the outlet thereofand disposed adjacent one side of the container and extending above thecontainer to continuously indicate the pressure in each pressurechamber.

l. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series ofpyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arrangedin'successive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressure chamberformed below each settling chamber, means for admitting water to eachpressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, a slot formedin the bottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of each chamber,said slots forming communication with the respective pressure chambers,a removable block disposed in each slot, and a plurality of interspacedvertically disposed passages formed in each block.

5. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series ofpyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and

ranged in successive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressurechamber formed below each settling chamber, means for admitting water toeach pressure chamber and for regulating the pressure thereof, a slotformed in the bottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of eachchamber, said slots forming communication with the respective pressurechambers, a removable block disposed in each slot, and a plurality ofintel-spaced vertically disposed passages formed in each block, the areaof the passages in each block being of increasing diameter.

6. A classifier comprising an elongated container having a series ofpyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arranged insuccessive order lengthwise thereof, an enclosed pressure chamber formedbelow each settling chamber, means for admitting water yto each pressurechamber and for'regulating the pressure thereof, a slot formed in thebottom of each settling chamber and at the apex of each chamber, saidslots forming communication with the respective pressure chambers, aremovable block disposed in each slot, a plurality of interspacedvertically disposed passages formed in each block, the area of thepassages in each block being of increasing diameter, andl means forvisually indicating the pressure in each pressure chamber.

7. A classifier vcomprising an elongated container having a series ofpyramid shaped settling chambers formed therein, and arranged insuccessive order lengthwise thereof, said chambers increasingsuccessively in area and depth, an enclosed ypressure chamber formedbelow each settling chamber, a crosswise extending longitudinal slotformed in the bottom of each settling chamber and communicating witheach adjacent pressure chamber, a block disposed in each slot, aplurality of interspaced vertical passages formed in each block, meansfor admitting water to each pressure chamber and for regulating thepressure thereof, a feed box Y adapted to deliver a pulp to theelongated container, a discharge pipe communicating with said container,and means for maintaining a predetermined pulp level above the settlingchambers.

8. In a classifier of the character described the combination with theelongated container and the successive settling chambers formed therein,of a pressure Vchamber formed below each settling chamber, acommunicating crosswise extending slot formed in the bottom of eachsettling chamber, a removable block receivable in each slot, and aplurality of interspaced vertically disposed passages formed in eachblock.

9. In a classifier of the character described the combination with theelongated container and the successive settling chambers formed therein,of a pressure chamber formed below each settling chamber, acommunicatingcrosswise extending slot formed f f ROYAL s. HANDY. EDWARD HEARING.

